A young woman who wanted to become a lawyer was brutally murdered in an alleged “opportunist stranger attack” on a street not far from her house.

Police in Ilford, east London, have now detained a 29-year-old male on suspicion of killing Zara Aleena.

According to detectives, Ms. Allena was attacked while she was strolling along Cranbrook Road in the area of Gants Hill Station.

She was discovered with severe head injuries and passed away in the hospital early on Sunday morning.

The London Ambulance Service dispatched officers to the site at 2.44 am, according to the Metropolitan Police.

An autopsy indicated that Ms. Allena “suffered several significant injuries.”

It is believed that no weapons were utilised.

According to detectives, Ms. Allena was attacked while she was strolling along Cranbrook Road in the area of Gants Hill Station.

She was discovered with severe head injuries and passed away in the hospital early on Sunday morning.

The London Ambulance Service dispatched officers to the site at 2.44 am, according to the Metropolitan Police.

An autopsy indicated that Ms. Allena “suffered several significant injuries.”

It is believed that no weapons were utilised.

The basic command unit (BCU) of the Met’s East Area is headed by Chief Superintendent Stuart Bell, who stated: “We are keeping Zara’s family updated on our progress and my greatest condolences are with them at this awful time.”

I cannot even begin to understand the suffering that Ms. Aleena’s loved ones must be going through right now, he said, adding that specialised police are taking care of them.

Valentines Park is still surrounded by a cordon, and only residents are permitted to travel through the area of Cranbrook Road that is still closed to the general public.

Anyone who was in Ilford’s Cranbrook Road neighbourhood between 3 and 2 am on Sunday is urged to get in touch with the police.

NEIGHBOURS HEARD ‘SCREAMING’

Today, a neighbour said: “We had just returned from an Ed Sheeran concert when I arrived home around that time.

“Although I heard screams, I couldn’t tell if it was coming from a child or a fox. I didn’t give it much thought. It’s surprising because there were still a lot of automobiles there at two in the morning.”

A helicopter woke up Subhash, 60, who lives just off Cranbrook Road, at around three in the morning.

“I’m a little concerned that anything like that is taking place on my doorway.”

Added him: “Not just my daughter, but also other daughters, girls, and women in the neighbourhood are affected.

“How safe are you in your own neighbourhood? It’s a pretty serious matter.”